RSMG106

5922 was recently transferred to Tuskegee Airmen from Kingsbridge. Like with 5869 when Tuskegee got it from West Farms, they left the Kingsbridge label on it.

As of this time, Yonkers removed the Eastchester label on the left side of 3266, and replaced it with their label.

3 hours ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

Bus 9863 just tracked on the Bx10 approaching 263rd.   Meanwhile,  M125 runs out of Tuskegee.

I viewed the depot assignment on the M125. 9863 passed-by my home on Saturday, and thought it was running. It turns out it's not in service.

5 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Why does it bug you? Buses are used where needed to make service. For example, I see that they often times use SBS buses on regular lines, etc. What's important is that service is made and people aren't waiting insane periods of time. 

I can understand that. I only say that because I rarely encounter local buses from the Bronx in my area. Twice with West Farms, and now once with Kingsbridge. Unless the bus I saw must've went over to TU for refueling, similar to Spring Creek's express coaches getting refueled at TU.

This is something that was bugging me. Just a minute ago, I saw 9863 from Kingsbridge passing by my house (My house is in East Harlem). This was not the first time I encounter a bus coming from the Bronx. The first time was when a WF bus passed-by. I didn't know the number at the time, but it came out of nowhere. Whether or not 9863 was traveling from Kingsbridge to Manhattan for the start of the M125 route, or for training, I needed to question this?

11 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

The legroom issue has been resolved (to the extent possible), but that is only one problem. The latest issue now is these new floor-to-ceiling shields that block off the aisle and the only exit on the express bus.  Some people have claustrophobia and have grave concerns about being enclosed like that for hours.  There is a big concern about what happens if the bus operator loses consciousness and how people will get out, and yes we're aware of the windows and those emergency exits, but that's besides the point. There is one door to get on and off of the bus and it should be accessible at all times. 

In 2013, an express bus that I was actually supposed to be taking home (I was lucky in that I was stuck in my office for a bit longer and got the next bus to Riverdale) saw 25 people injured when the bus operator had a medical episode and lost consciousness. The only reason that there were "only" 25 injuries and no fatalities is because a passenger was able to run to the front of the bus and steer it to safety.  All of the people that were on that bus got on my bus, including the guy that steered that bus, and everyone was visibly shaken up. I have already reached out about this and some people have contacted their elected officials.  

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/13-injured-in-upper-east-side-bus-crash/

The other issue is the Stop Requested situation. They have removed the bell in the front of the bus, which means that the screens are supposed to display the Stop Requested alert when someone rings the bell. Problem is either it does momentarily or it doesn't at all, so people ring the bell then freak out because they didn't hear the chime of the bell and don't see anything to indicate that they pressed it, so that leads to panic and people running to the front to tell the driver, etc. Basically chaos... Something else I reached out about. These are things that should've been handled properly from the beginning... I'll leave it at that.

1. I didn't know that the new shields would cause this issue on the new order.

2. I'm glad everyone survived, including the good Samaritan controlling the bus to safety.

3. The stop request bell is an issue for the Prevost fleet. The 2011 Prevosts from Ulmer Park had the same chime as the New Flyer and Orion fleet. The chime's volume is low, and it can create an issue. I was on the X28 last year when I pressed the button to request a stop. I was supposed to get off on Murray Street. However the B/O kept on driving, until I got to the front and asked politely to exit at Barclay Street. As for the 2020-22 Prevost order, the stop request indicator was removed, and the announcements will say the stop was requested. However, in some cases, the B/O will turn the announcements off, making it an issue when you are requesting to get off at the next stop. So far in my journeys on CP and FR's Prevost, there was no issues.

1 minute ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

The ironic thing as I was discussing in my group yesterday, everyone wanted the new buses, and now people are trying to avoid them to get the old ones. I would expect this order to likely be delayed again, as another has popped up that riders are not happy about.

I can understand this situation. I do like the new buses, but I can understand that the legroom is not comfortable (even though they resolved this issue), and some people might head in the back of the bus for better legroom. I've been on College Point and Far Rockaway's new buses, and they feel okay. I think riders are not ready for the decision to retire the old equipment.

1 minute ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

I'm not sure what you mean by decide, but the current order is not enough to get rid of all of the old express buses, so it would appear that they will be keeping the latest oldest express buses likely from say 2007 or whenever these depots last had new buses.  

I agree. For the next order if greenlit, Yonkers would need 56 buses, and Eastchester would need 59 buses respectively, to get rid of all of the CLs in their fleet. However, they should at least keep the 2007s in their fleet until the time has come.

10 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Right now, Eastchester & Yonkers are all over the place with this new bus order.  We're getting the new express buses on the Yonkers lines, but just about every old express bus I get now has been a current or former Eastchester express bus.

This happened to me on my first and only time on the BXM3 trip before the Bronx redesign takes place this June. The only buses I've been on were the CLs (3389 and 3427). 3427 was an Eastchester unit. 

Once they complete the new order, they both have to decide on what to do with the CLs.

Here is something unique. According to Via Garibaldi 8, both Eastchester and Yonkers exchange and borrow equipment often. This process is similar to the Staten Island division. However, the key difference is that Staten Island express buses can be borrowed for either rush-hours, or missing runs. 3266 is an example of this. Note that this bus was on the BXM11 (with the EC sticker)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/vehicles/press-release/21266374/nova-bus-corporation-nova-bus-wins-bid-from-mta

By the looks of it, NovaBus will start delivering the 135 bus LFSes in December of this year, and expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2023. However, because Nova is delivering the remaining LFS HEVs for Manhattanville and Tuskegee Airmen, and started delivery on the LFS diesels, we will have to wait and see for the bus order.

3 minutes ago, BM5 via Woodhaven said:

Taking what you're saying here at face value, this is why you should actually use the buses for yourself. I mean you can't be surprised if you have no real knowledge of the routes in question and people respond in the way they do to your proposals. Numbers and lines on a map don't really tell you much of anything. Like you need to put that into context, and part of that is done by actually riding the buses and observing how things work. 

He means replacing the Bx4A with the Bx4, although I question the notion that the Bx4A section is that busy ("full crowding") to begin with. But yeah, Bx11s to Westchester Square would drag out the route, it shouldn't be extended too far as it would be delayed with all the traffic to/from Washington Heights that it would have to endure. The new route to Parkchester would only be slightly longer IINM, since the route in Highbridge is streamlined, so it's not that big of a deal. Otherwise, I would avoid extending any of the routes going to/from Washington Heights. 

I get it and I understand. See the previous post.

8 hours ago, NBTA said:

My brother, you don’t ride Bronx routes, it’s okay. Imma tell you why these proposed routes don’t make sense.

1: While I am 50/50 about the  should be a full time limited, the renaming of the  to the Bx1A would spark confusion.

2: You’re making the  longer than what it has to be, and rerouting the  would just be redundant.

3. Those s are relatively empty going to and leaving Bay Plaza. There’s a reason why it’s only a weekend thing, plus it makes less stops than the . 

4: There’s a reason why the  and  got split. The ‘s main objective is to serve those going to/from Flushing to the eastern part of the Bronx. The ’s purpose is to serve those who are catching the  train.

5: I’ve came up with this idea before, but now, as more time comes past, it wouldn’t work with constant traffic jams, plus the  is one of the most reliable buses in the Bronx, and the  isn’t.

6: What would be the point? You’re adding 10-15 minutes to a bus line that’s really only supposed to be at max, 30 minutes. The isn’t used as much as you think. 

 

Thanks for those points. Admittingly, I only ridden on the BXM3, BXM7, BX12 SBS, BX15, and the BX30 only once or twice since 2020. However, these proposals do indeed will not make any sense whatsoever. Via Garibaldi 8 did make a good point on having the BX1 running on time. This especially goes to some Bronx routes including the BXM3. I waited for the BXM3 to arrive at the starting time of 9:05AM. However, there wasn't a bus until 10 minutes later. By the time I made it to Getty Square, the time that the bus was supposed to arrive was at 10:17AM. I almost missed the bus returning back to Manhattan. I made it at 10:35AM, and I was lucky to catch the bus that was about to leave. Overall, you made some points on the proposed routes, and how some routes need to be on-time for better service (better or for worst).

4 minutes ago, MHV184 said:

9563 and 9585 MCH to MHV

Now MV is getting MCH XDEs? MV already has more than 72 XDE40s from Quill, with 4 more to go. I don't why MV is also getting XDEs from MCH? Probably to add more clarity on the Xcelsiors.

3 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Another person that clearly has no idea how these routes function within the areas they serve...

Those are suggestions. This is based on what a friend told me about. I can clearly see that these proposals suck.  .

The only routes that may needed some changes would be the BX2 and BX5. The BX1 and BX2 share the majority of the route, and the BX2 would be renamed as the 1A for local service, while the BX1 would be limited. The BX5's extension to Bay Plaza for every other bus on weekdays can help relieve the BX12, and to provide more frequent service to Bay Plaza. 

As for the others, throw those proposals away, because my friend doesn't know much about the Bronx. I was disappointed by the feedback of the other routes needed proposal, but I can see now that these proposed changes to the routes will not be touched.

I do have some proposals for the Bronx. Because it's too late for some changes, and that the MTA is testing the new route layout, I decided to lay my ideas anyway. I'm not sure if these ideas were discussed, but feel free to add opinions to this.

Because the BX1 and BX2 share the majority of the alignment, I would propose renaming the BX2 into the BX1A. The BX1 would become full-time limited, while the BX1A would become full-time local.

Because the BX4A goes to Westchester Square via Metropolitan Avenue, which has full crowding, I would suggest making the BX4 go via Metropolitan Avenue, replacing the BX4A. To fill-in for the BX4 via Westchester Avenue, I would propose the BX11 to extend to Westchester Square. Even though the BX11's final plan will go to Parkchester, I think it would help make better service for the BX4. This is because the original BX4 goes via the , and doesn't have any use after Parkchester. If the BX4 goes via Metropolitan, then it would have much better use. The BX11 would also be beneficial to go via Westchester. 

The BX5's current runs only go to Bay Plaza on weekends, and some runs short-turn near White Plains Road. For this proposal, every other will extend to Bay Plaza full-time. This would provide relief for the BX12, and provide more frequent service to/from Bay Plaza.

I'm not sure if some can agree, but the BX23 is unnecessary because of it's own routing. For this proposal, the BX23 would merge with the Q50. The Q50's redesign plan would only go to Bay Plaza during rush-hours. The proposal I have would make the Q50 go to Bay Plaza full-time. This would provide better services between Queens and LaGuardia Airport.

The next proposal would be to merge the BX27 with the BX35. This would not only provide a one-seat ride from Soundview to Washington Heights, but the BX27 would use articulated buses.

And lastly, the M125 isn't as bad as it is. However, to help provide better service, it should extend to Randall's Island, replacing the M35 routing. (The terminal will still be The Hub, but will provide better service to Randall's Island). The M35 is slow, ends at the East Side, and is unnecessary. My M125's proposed routing would be simple, but improve service to Randall's Island with fast and more frequent service, and for passengers to have better connections to/from the island.

I saw R142A #7312, and it got refitted with LCD advertisements.

On 5/17/2022 at 10:56 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Quill is pretty decent, though I have not taken a crosstown bus in some months. I was on a M101 bus on Sunday that had sticky floors. That depot is one of the worst. Buses sound terrible and they are filthy. Don't take the local buses often, but when I do, it has been the M101, M102 or M103 lines.

When it comes to OH, that depot needs some serious cleaning on the interiors of the bus. Also maintenance needs to be better. There are two things that I noticed about my trip back home. For one, 6051 no longer has the loud chime when pulling the cord. Someone must've vandalized. And two, the buses interior sides where I sat with the chime, is dirty.

1 hour ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

I was told recently that they (Yonkers Depot) also have a shortage of staff to do things like cleaning, etc., and it shows. Their buses used to be very clean. Back years ago, they would have B/Os help out with cleaning the buses at the depot. Not sure what's the story these days.

This is a issue. Buses I've seen from Yonkers are clean, but other times, some buses aren't clean. 

1 hour ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Those two depots swap and borrow buses often, more now in the last few years I've rode Eastchester express buses on Yonkers lines and 3266 I have rode recently. Didn't pay attention to the outside though. Stickers are the least of worries right now with manpower shortages to do things like clean the buses, etc.

The swapping and borrowing is similar to Staten Island's depots. However, the shortages are taking a toll for routes at the MTA. At least 2 weeks ago, the M101 was experiencing less operators, and waited sometime for the bus to arrive to bring me home.

As of right now, 3266 still has the EC sticker, even though it's assigned to Yonkers. There seems to be an goof because they forgot to replace the EC sticker with theirs.

Prevost will no longer be in the United States after deliveries are finished by December.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/vehicles/news/21264813/ny-prevost-to-cease-plattsburgh-operations

The following buses does not have any screens:
4184, 4215 (CS)

4009, 4018 (MV)

4364 (MCH)

4126 (MJQ)

4455 (LGA)